An Evidence-Based Approach to Addiction Treatment/Recovery by Life of Purpose Treatment Program
Many times, addicts and alcoholics started using drugs and/or drinking socially, perhaps with friends at parties or only on weekends. What may be a phase for some quickly spirals out of control for an addict/alcoholic.
Why does one become an addict or alcoholic?
As with most aspects of human behavior, both genetics as well as environmental factors play a role. Numerous studies have shown that there is a strong genetic predisposition to addiction, both in general as well as to individual classes of drugs such as alcohol or opioids¹²³. This predisposition then becomes coupled with environmental and behavioral factors causing epigenetic changes within the brain. Addiction is adisease, a state of dis-ease, within the brain that causes the addict to pursue mind and mood altering substances with the prowess of an animal instinctively trying to survive by hunting food. The reaction within the nucleus accumbens (hedonic area) of the brain provides feelings of reward and an intense desire for more (although the addict is suffering immensely and the once pleasurable feelings have subsided leaving only desperation and numbness in their wake). Once the neuropathways in the brain are forged and the dopamine receptors’ functionality has mutated, there is no turning back – unless there is help—and individual therapy has been shown to work best. This, coupled with a thriving support network, helps the addict to normalize healthy brain functioning, build healthy behavioral patterns and coping mechanisms, and foster meaningful social relationships. After all, that is our number one human need: connection with others.
For all the genuine value of the medical model, it neglects to encompass the development of human neurochemistry developing synchronously with environmental influences. The fear of being present and mindful of life, embracing society, is what underlies addiction. Drugs and alcohol serve as emotional anesthetics, voiding the fear of emptiness, a transient solution to low self-esteem and social anxiety. These substances cancel out the full range of emotions, removing vulnerability, opening up altered sensory perceptions and disingenuous euphoria, leaving regret and pain in their wake.
Addiction involves several key features:
● an intense compulsion to use, persevering thoughts surrounding addictive behaviors;
● lack of self-control and self-awareness;
● disconnect from society and relationships;
● persistence in mood altering substance abuse despite negative consequences;
● intense emotional and physical pain when not using or drinking.
Our program will go beneath the surface of addiction to unveil triggering issues of the addiction process, such as low self-esteem, lack of direction or purpose in life, traumatic events, family turmoil, angst in interpersonal relationships, learning disabilities, physical pain, depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
Our multimodality approach employs many techniques, including the following:
● Narrative Therapy: Working with clients to understand, find exception to, and “re-write” the unhelpful, destructive themes of their lives.
● Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Learning and exploring the process by which self-defeating thoughts lead to self-defeating behaviors and how to challenge and transform the cognitive process.
● Logo Therapy: Inviting clients to get in touch with their core values, goals, and aspirations so they can achieve their “LIFE OF PURPOSE“.
● Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy: To help evaluate maladaptive behaviors and build productive mental health and behaviors.
● Imago Therapy: Building healthier, more rewarding and fulfilling relationships through effective, productive, and non-combative communication techniques.
● Gestalt: To examine behaviors, thoughts, and feelings for self realignment
● Humanistic: Honors individuality and uniqueness.
● Light-Sound Neurotherapy: To realign and strengthen optimal brainwaves.
● Mindfulness Therapy: To bring awareness to growth and experience in the present moment.
● Social-Learning Therapy: Helps to strengthen relationships and social functioning.
● Hypnotherapy: For relaxation, stress relief, and reaching levels of the subconscious to aid in behavioral and thought evolution.
●Animal Assisted Therapy: Interaction with our certified therapy dog Pasha allows clients to feel connected and grounded in the present moment. Evidenced-based research indicates that pet therapy is effective when utilized in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders.
Our therapists draw from a multi-disciplinary background to incorporate elements from various cognitive-behavioral and psychoanalytic techniques. We also employ individually planned nutrition and physical exercise programs as well as meditation practices. Additionally, LIFE OF PURPOSE utilizes traditional approaches such as group therapy. Our groups are uniquely focused and carefully tailored to the needs of our college bound client population. Groups meet several times daily (which helps accommodate the class schedules of our clients as they begin to reintegrate into university), always with different topics ranging from experiential to group processing dynamics. All clients also have their individual therapist to meet with several times per week for intensive therapy and counseling. At LIFE OF PURPOSE we understand that a focused individual and client-specific group therapy is absolutely essential for healing and growth.
1. Merikangas KR, Stolar M, Stevens DE, Goulet J, Preisig MA, Fenton B, Zhang H, O’Malley SS, Rounsaville BJ.. Familial transmission of substance use disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry (JAMA)1998 Nov;55(11):973-9.
2. Prescott CA, Kendler KS. Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Alcohol Abuse and Dependence in a Population-Based Sample of Male Twins. American Journal of Psychiatry 1999;156:34-40.
3. Enoch MA, Goldman D. The genetics of alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2001 Apr;3(2):144-51
Why does one become an addict or alcoholic?
As with most aspects of human behavior, both genetics as well as environmental factors play a role. Numerous studies have shown that there is a strong genetic predisposition to addiction, both in general as well as to individual classes of drugs such as alcohol or opioids¹²³. This predisposition then becomes coupled with environmental and behavioral factors causing epigenetic changes within the brain. Addiction is adisease, a state of dis-ease, within the brain that causes the addict to pursue mind and mood altering substances with the prowess of an animal instinctively trying to survive by hunting food. The reaction within the nucleus accumbens (hedonic area) of the brain provides feelings of reward and an intense desire for more (although the addict is suffering immensely and the once pleasurable feelings have subsided leaving only desperation and numbness in their wake). Once the neuropathways in the brain are forged and the dopamine receptors’ functionality has mutated, there is no turning back – unless there is help—and individual therapy has been shown to work best. This, coupled with a thriving support network, helps the addict to normalize healthy brain functioning, build healthy behavioral patterns and coping mechanisms, and foster meaningful social relationships. After all, that is our number one human need: connection with others.
For all the genuine value of the medical model, it neglects to encompass the development of human neurochemistry developing synchronously with environmental influences. The fear of being present and mindful of life, embracing society, is what underlies addiction. Drugs and alcohol serve as emotional anesthetics, voiding the fear of emptiness, a transient solution to low self-esteem and social anxiety. These substances cancel out the full range of emotions, removing vulnerability, opening up altered sensory perceptions and disingenuous euphoria, leaving regret and pain in their wake.
Addiction involves several key features:
● an intense compulsion to use, persevering thoughts surrounding addictive behaviors;
● lack of self-control and self-awareness;
● disconnect from society and relationships;
● persistence in mood altering substance abuse despite negative consequences;
● intense emotional and physical pain when not using or drinking.
Our program will go beneath the surface of addiction to unveil triggering issues of the addiction process, such as low self-esteem, lack of direction or purpose in life, traumatic events, family turmoil, angst in interpersonal relationships, learning disabilities, physical pain, depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
Our multimodality approach employs many techniques, including the following:
● Narrative Therapy: Working with clients to understand, find exception to, and “re-write” the unhelpful, destructive themes of their lives.
● Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Learning and exploring the process by which self-defeating thoughts lead to self-defeating behaviors and how to challenge and transform the cognitive process.
● Logo Therapy: Inviting clients to get in touch with their core values, goals, and aspirations so they can achieve their “LIFE OF PURPOSE“.
● Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy: To help evaluate maladaptive behaviors and build productive mental health and behaviors.
● Imago Therapy: Building healthier, more rewarding and fulfilling relationships through effective, productive, and non-combative communication techniques.
● Gestalt: To examine behaviors, thoughts, and feelings for self realignment
● Humanistic: Honors individuality and uniqueness.
● Light-Sound Neurotherapy: To realign and strengthen optimal brainwaves.
● Mindfulness Therapy: To bring awareness to growth and experience in the present moment.
● Social-Learning Therapy: Helps to strengthen relationships and social functioning.
● Hypnotherapy: For relaxation, stress relief, and reaching levels of the subconscious to aid in behavioral and thought evolution.
●Animal Assisted Therapy: Interaction with our certified therapy dog Pasha allows clients to feel connected and grounded in the present moment. Evidenced-based research indicates that pet therapy is effective when utilized in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders.
Our therapists draw from a multi-disciplinary background to incorporate elements from various cognitive-behavioral and psychoanalytic techniques. We also employ individually planned nutrition and physical exercise programs as well as meditation practices. Additionally, LIFE OF PURPOSE utilizes traditional approaches such as group therapy. Our groups are uniquely focused and carefully tailored to the needs of our college bound client population. Groups meet several times daily (which helps accommodate the class schedules of our clients as they begin to reintegrate into university), always with different topics ranging from experiential to group processing dynamics. All clients also have their individual therapist to meet with several times per week for intensive therapy and counseling. At LIFE OF PURPOSE we understand that a focused individual and client-specific group therapy is absolutely essential for healing and growth.
1. Merikangas KR, Stolar M, Stevens DE, Goulet J, Preisig MA, Fenton B, Zhang H, O’Malley SS, Rounsaville BJ.. Familial transmission of substance use disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry (JAMA)1998 Nov;55(11):973-9.
2. Prescott CA, Kendler KS. Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Alcohol Abuse and Dependence in a Population-Based Sample of Male Twins. American Journal of Psychiatry 1999;156:34-40.
3. Enoch MA, Goldman D. The genetics of alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2001 Apr;3(2):144-51